The International Classification of Diseases (ICD) is a common, standardized language for
medical terminology that allows for the sharing of information with less ambiguity, and a
reduced chance for errors when coding. ICD-11, the latest version, is completely digital and
has many updates including a new user-friendly format, multilingual capabilities, clarity of
terms, updated diagnostic recommendations for mental health conditions, new chapters
(traditional medicine, sexual health, and gaming disorders), and digital documentation of
COVID-19 certificates. “These updates reflect recent progress in medicine and advances in
scientific understanding” (WHO, 2022).
The qualities of the updates included in ICD-11 that would be beneficial to countries looking
to adopt it would be the multilingual capabilities, entirely digital user-friendly format, and
clarity of terms. All of these will help with the coding process and make it easier for
healthcare providers to record medical conditions. The standardization that ICD-11 offers
make it easier to share information across providers, resulting in continuity of care for the
patients.
ICD recently released its 11th revision and with it came some improvements over previous
versions. Such as accuracy and ease of coding with the help of technology. It is both online
and offline compatible. This also reduces the time to train and implement with the new
version. Not to mention its multilingual support that allows the system to stay up to date
globally. It's no wonder the World Health Organization is helping countries to adopt and
implement this newer revision. Speaking of, countries implementing this revision may find it
to be more flexible in coordination with their own systems. This helps to increase the quality
of care afforded to patients and thus improve care around the world.
The improvements made to the ICD-11 coding system seem to be well thought out and
beneficial to the healthcare world. This new 11th revision of International Classification of
Diseases is entirely digital; it contains 17,000 unique codes and more than 120,000 codable
terms. Are now 35 countries are using ICD-11. The good news about the ICD-11 revision is
that it will is accessible to everybody.
This new revision also has a multilingual browser and coding tool. It includes, rare disease
coding, supports perinatal and maternal coding, grade and stage coding for cancers. The ICD-
11 system also covers primary care, dermatology, causes of death, patient safety, cancer
registration, vaccine status, test results, COVID-19 vaccination status, pain documentation,
reimbursement, data dictionaries and clinical documentation, and even more perks. The
country should adopt ICD-11 because it has: clinical terms, record surveillance, public health,
cause of death, mix-case costing resources, (DRG), cancer registration, patient safety, drug
safety, device safety, primary care, preventive and research, functioning assessment, decision
support.
Some improvements made ICD11 are "it is now entirely digital with a new user-friendly
format and multilingual capabilities that reduce the chance of error." Another improvement is
that ICD 11 has input from providers from over 90 countries. ICD 11 also improves the
transparency of terms and allows more detail to codes. In addition to these advances, ICD 11
has updated diagnostic recommendations for mental health problems and digital
documentation of covid 19 certificates. Some good qualities would be that it includes input
from other countries. This makes ICD 11 easier to apply to other regions. It also features
multilingual capabilities which is another good quality that would make other countries have
an easier time understanding the system and using it to meet their needs.
World Health Organization. (2022, February 11). International Classification of Diseases
(ICD). WHO. Retrieved February 13, 2022, from
https://www.who.int/standards/classifications/classification-of-diseases
World Health Organization. (n.d.). ICD-11 2022 release. World Health Organization.
Retrieved February 17, 2022, from https://www.who.int/news/item/11-02-2022-icd-11-2022-
release
World Health Organization. (n.d.). ICD-11 2022 release. World Health Organization.
Retrieved from https://www.who.int/news/item/11-02-2022-icd-11-2022-releaseWorld
Health Organization (WHO), (2022 Feb 11). WHO’s new International Classification of
Diseases (ICD-11) comes into effect. https://www.who.int/news/item/11-02-2022-who-s-
new-international-classification-of-diseases-(icd-11)-comes-into-effect
